Thomas Meik facts for kids
Thomas Meik (born January 20, 1812 – died April 22, 1896) was a Scottish engineer from the 1800s. He was famous for his work on ports and railways in Scotland and northern England. Thomas Meik had two sons, Patrick Meik and Charles Meik, who also became important engineers. The company they started is still active today and is now part of the Jacobs Engineering Group.
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His Early Life and Family
Thomas Meik was born in Easter Duddingston on January 20, 1812. His parents were Patrick Meik and Barbara Scott.
He went to the High School and the University of Edinburgh. After university, Thomas Meik worked for two years with a company that built mills. Then, he became an apprentice to John Steedman, an engineer working on the Hutcheson Bridge in Glasgow. This bridge was designed by Robert Stevenson, who was the grandfather of the famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson.
His first long-term job was helping William Chadwell Mylne at the New River Company in London.
Thomas Meik married Julia Hunter (1825-1911). They had several children, including Patrick Walter Meik and Charles Scott Meik, who followed in their father's footsteps as engineers.
Building Harbors and Railways
In 1845, when he was 33, Thomas Meik became the main engineer for the River Wear Commission. This group was in charge of building and managing maritime (sea-related) projects around Sunderland.
Working on Hendon Dock
In 1859, the River Wear Commission started building the Hendon Dock. Thomas Meik was responsible for the entire project. This huge task included building a large warehouse for grain and a lighthouse. Even though the lighthouse was moved in 1983, it still stands today! A few miles north, he also advised on the engineering for Blyth Harbour starting in 1862.
Forming Partnerships
In 1868, Thomas Meik started a business with William David Nisbet. They worked on many projects, including a railway line called the Hylton, Southwick and Monkwearmouth Railway. This railway helped transport coal from mines to the port at Sunderland. Later, a bigger railway company bought this line.
Thomas Meik also designed several other railways in Scotland. These included a link to Eyemouth, an extension to the line between Forfar and Brechin, the Newburgh and North Fife Railway, and the East Fife Central Railway.
In 1875, his partnership with Nisbet ended. Thomas Meik then started a new company with his own sons. Together, they worked on Scottish ports like Ayr, Burntisland, and Bo'ness. They also advised on the new dock at Silloth for the North British Railway.
His Legacy
Thomas Meik retired in 1888. He passed away in Edinburgh in 1896 at the age of 84. He left his engineering business to his sons, Patrick and Charles. He was buried in Duddingston Kirkyard.
The engineering firm that Thomas Meik and his sons founded continued to grow. It later became known as Halcrow Group Limited. This company was bought by a US firm called CH2M Hill in 2011, and then in 2017, CH2M was acquired by the Jacobs Engineering Group. This means the company Thomas Meik started is still part of a major engineering group today!
